Vermonters in the Civil War
Collection Overview
Vermont soldiers in the Civil War wrote an enormous quantity of letters and diaries, of which many thousands have survived in libraries, historical societies, and in private hands. This collection represents a selection of letters and diaries from...
Show moreVermont soldiers in the Civil War wrote an enormous quantity of letters and diaries, of which many thousands have survived in libraries, historical societies, and in private hands. This collection represents a selection of letters and diaries from the University of Vermont and the Vermont Historical Society.
The collection includes materials dating from 1861-1865. Materials were selected for digitization to provide a variety of perspectives on events and issues. The voices represented in the collection include private soldiers and officers, as well as a few civilians. All of the extant Civil War-era letters or diaries of each of the selected individuals (at least, all that are to be found in the participating institutions’ collections) are included; each adds a certain experience and point of view to the whole.
Officers in the photo above are (from left to right): Lieutenant Colonel Charles B. Stoughton, Colonel Edwin H. Stoughton, Major Harry N. Worthen. All are from the Fourth Vermont Infantry Regiment.
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Sub-collections
- Daniel S. White Correspondence
- Edward P. Stone Correspondence
- George W. Quimby Correspondence
- Henry A. Smith Correspondence
- Henry Harrison Wilder Correspondence
- Horace Barlow Diary
- John Lester Barstow Correspondence
- John W. Campbell Correspondence
- John Wolcott Phelps Correspondence
- Joseph Chase Rutherford Correspondence
- Joseph L. Perkins Correspondence
- Joseph Spafford Correspondence
- Justus F. Gale Correspondence
- Lyman S. Williams Correspondence
- Orlando S. Turner Correspondence
- Ransom W. Towle Correspondence
- Roswell Farnham Correspondence
- Solomon G. Heaton Correspondence
- Valentine G. Barney Correspondence
- Wheelock Graves Veazey Correspondence
- William C. Holbrook Correspondence
- William Wirt Henry Correspondence
Lesson Plans
(1 - 20 of 89)
Pages
- Title
- Benjamin F. Butler to John Wolcott Phelps
- Description
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Topics include the summoning of Roys Nicholas Colbert and Charles Stepheny to Command General Benjamin F. Butler.
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- Benjamin F. Parmenter to Brother
- Description
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Topics include Benjamin F. Parmenter's negative opinion of an attack ( the first battle of Bull Run--see letter 3).
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- Benjamin F. Parmenter to Brother
- Description
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Topics include the policy of the war department to not allow anyone to go home regardless of their circumstances,enquiries about home, Parmenter's growing disillusion with the Army, and a discussion about "the Southern confederacy is a fixed fact."
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- Benjamin F. Parmenter to Brother
- Description
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Topics include the regiment being located at Bush Hill Camp, rumors that they may join up with another brigade, more discussion of the 1st Battle of Bull Run, Parmenter's low opinions of the regiments officers,and his disappointment in the treatment of the soldiers.
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- Benjamin F. Parmenter to Brother
- Description
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Topics include Benjamin F. Parmenter's hospital stay and him enlisting his brother to take care of things at home.
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- Charles F. Bancroft to Clarissa Bancroft
- Description
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Topics include drills, a prediction that the fighting will end by June, and inquiries about home. In addition to myriad details regarding weather, food, and correspondence, Bancroft inserts thoughtful questions, e.g.: "Clara do folks in our neighborhood manifest much interest in my being out here...
Show moreTopics include drills, a prediction that the fighting will end by June, and inquiries about home. In addition to myriad details regarding weather, food, and correspondence, Bancroft inserts thoughtful questions, e.g.: "Clara do folks in our neighborhood manifest much interest in my being out here? do they seem to care a great deal about it?" He also refers to the lull in fighting--and resulting boredom-- that precedes Lincoln's general order of Jan. 27 for federal armies to advance.
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- Title
- Charles F. Bancroft to Family
- Description
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Topics include the number of men who have either died or are sick in the regiment, the success at Port Royal, and the arrest of the Confederate Ministers to Europe, Mason and Slidell.
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- Charles F. Bancroft to Family
- Description
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Topics include anticipation of a battle in Virginia and requests for some items from home.
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- Charles F. Bancroft to Family
- Description
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Topics include taking possession of Shelman's Mill, the men killed and wounded by the Rebels, and an account of brief skirmishes. Bancroft describes abandoned Rebel fortifications and odd items left behind. Senses that greater fighting is about to begin, and indeed, the so-called siege of...
Show moreTopics include taking possession of Shelman's Mill, the men killed and wounded by the Rebels, and an account of brief skirmishes. Bancroft describes abandoned Rebel fortifications and odd items left behind. Senses that greater fighting is about to begin, and indeed, the so-called siege of Yorktown, Va. dates from this period. In a lighter moment, Bancroft expresses his gratitude for the green tea he received from home: "there is nothing better for a soldier on a march than a cup of tea."
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- Title
- Charles F. Bancroft to Parents
- Description
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Topics include items received from home and events surrounding a bottle of brandy that was stolen.
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- Charles F. Bancroft to Smiley Bancroft
- Description
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Topics include picket guard, description of camp life, and a prediction of the future of the war.
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- E. T. Johnson to Mary [Farnham]
- Description
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Topics include several companies camping on the riverbank in Maryland, Jackson’s army assembling in Leasburg, and preparing to march most likely to Edwards Ferry.
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- Edward P. Stone to Family
- Description
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Writes of the first death in the regiment, that of William Fallon of Royalton from the measles, of his good health, refers to John (perhaps his brother?), comfortable living conditions and of having to prepare for the funeral.
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- George W. Quimby to Sister
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Writes from Camp Griffin, Va. Smith's Division of consoling his sister Emeline on the death of her husband and how she should start taking care of the estate cautioning her about who she may trust and those town folks she should not be influenced by.
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- Henry A. Smith to Family
- Description
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Topics include the journey from Washington to Anapolis, Maryland and an account of a runaway slave.
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- Henry L. Terry to John W. Campbell
- Description
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Topics include encamping at Lee's Mill, twelve miles from Washington, close to the Rebels.
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- John M. Stone to Family
- Description
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Stone writes of being thankful over Thanksgiving as a number of deaths in the regiment have occurred from sickness, of having suffered from neuralgia and having had a tooth extracted, of the need for caps, gloves and flannel strips of cloth for those suffering from sore throats, mentions his...
Show moreStone writes of being thankful over Thanksgiving as a number of deaths in the regiment have occurred from sickness, of having suffered from neuralgia and having had a tooth extracted, of the need for caps, gloves and flannel strips of cloth for those suffering from sore throats, mentions his brother and cousins in the service with him, inquires of the family and requests newspaper clippings be enclosed in letters to insure delivery.
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- Title
- John W. Campbell to Family
- Description
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Topics include an account of the journey from Bethel to Washington.
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- Joseph L. Perkins to Brother
- Description
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Topics include a discussion of Liberty and the Constitution and one of women's equality with men.
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- Joseph Legar to John Wolcott Phelps
- Description
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Topics include trying to save Isaac Jones' property.